Was supposed to rain all morning, and I’d about decided to postpone our hike until afternoon, but after a couple hours, it just looked a little misty out there, so up the switchback we went, dog and I.
Didn’t expect any great photos, what with the poor visibility (and late hour), but a lovely female Cooper’s Hawk popped up from the bottom of the old Monarch Quarry (where I assume she’d been having breakfast, but I couldn’t spot her prey).
Not many species, nor big numbers—but a fine hike in the mud and fog.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 9:02 a.m. (10:02 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
The morning was mild, the morning was overcast. Aside from a lone trail runner and a distant hiker, it was just dog and me up there on the deer trails.
Still quite a few migrants—in fact, more yellow-rumps than yesterday—and a lovely sparrow, and a high, distant eagle (I’m pretty sure).
Afternoon rain. Will rain tonight and in the morning. Sweet, sweet rain.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:21 a.m. (9:21 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 2. Yellow-rumped Warbler 3. Black-billed Magpie* 4. House Finch** 5. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. White-crowned Sparrow 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. American Robin (v) 10. Dark-eyed Junco 11. Golden Eagle 12. Lesser Goldfinch*
Elsewhere
13. House Sparrow (v) 14. Song Sparrow (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Got some good sleep last night, so didn’t rush to the trailhead first thing. As a result, much of my hike with dog happened in the sunshine this morning. Mild temperatures, plenty of interesting birds, just an all-around nice time.
Plus, a kinglet actually posed for a photo.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:30 a.m. (9:30 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. House Finch** 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 5. Yellow-rumped Warbler** 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Mourning Dove 8. Lesser Goldfinch** 9. Northern Flicker 10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11. Dark-eyed Junco 12. European Starling 13. Black-billed Magpie** 14. Red-tailed Hawk
